I’ve been a menstrual cup user for three years now. I started using it during the start of the pandemic, when there wasn’t a lot of certainly about getting tampons and pads from supermarkets with supply issues. Since then I’ve never looked back. Menstrual cups are simply superior to pads in every way - well, not counting the learning curve one needs to go through to properly place it inside the vagina. But once that’s sorted out, it’s a lot, lot less shitty dealing with menstruation as a woman.

Recently though I’ve gotten on the menstrual disc train and it is even better than menstrual cups. Here’s a quick comparison, and why I ultimately decided that a disc is better for me!

While we first featured menstrual cups in 2016 here at Project Vanity, it wasn’t until last year that I personally started using one. The pandemic made me do it. It was such a hassle to buy my favorite pads and tampons as they’re not easily available in most supermarkets, plus I felt like I’m adding too much plastic waste whenever I bleed. That’s why I decided to get a cheap menstrual cup from BeautyMNL called Anytime. I wasn’t excited about the Bible verse in the packaging - somehow it felt like it was mildly judging me for inserting their own product into my vagina (weird) - but it was a start.

Yes, it’s true - menstrual cups are now available in Mercury Drug! When I saw the news I was amazed that what seemed like a pipe dream before is now a reality for us MC users. If you’re a menstrual cup user or even just mildly curious about it, I’m sure you’ve found out how hard it is to get access to different brands here in the Philippines. We are still firmly conservative in many ways, but I’m happy to share that this is one front where the market is becoming more open!

I wish I could talk more people into trying menstrual cups. They’ve made my periods considerably easier to manage and more comfortable, hands down! I do understand that the idea of using one can seem daunting, and that you probably have a lot of questions. Let’s try to answer some of those Qs then! 

It’s been three years since I switched to using a menstrual cup, and it has made getting my period so much more bearable. I no longer need to worry about my napkin leaking or paranoid about getting toxic shock syndrome (TSS) from my tampon. Using a cup is so much more comfortable than the other two options since there are no strings or thick paddings to deal with! And it does make me feel better knowing that menstrual cups are a more environment-friendly option for dealing with my monthly period.

Let’s face it: when asked what are the worst things about being a girl, dealing with our monthly period is one of the first things that come to mind. The blood, the cramps, and the PMS we endure for decades is no walk in the park. Thankfully, living in the 21st century gives us more options on how we manage our blood flow. We asked Yna (24), Calacatia (27), and Annette (34), as well as PV girls Gett (24) and Den (34), who have tried different methods to manage their periods to share their experiences.